Adelaide United's upset ex-captain Jon McKain has been bluntly told to deal with his demotion and find some form by coach John Kosmina.
McKain wanted to keep the captaincy and protested Kosmina's decision to replace him with goalkeeping stalwart Eugene Galekovic.
"Jonny was upset," Kosmina told reporters.
"And understandably.
"But I thought in the circumstances, and I thought long and hard about it ... it was a tough call to make but I think it's in the best interests of the team and the club."
Defender McKain has struggled in his first season at Adelaide, which has slipped to last on the ladder entering Friday night's home encounter with Wellington Phoenix.
"He's an adult, you have got to deal with these things," Kosmina said.
Kosmina, himself only appointed coach 11 days ago following Rini Coolen's sacking, conceded McKain's nervous form was a factor in the change.
"It's in the best interest of Jonny, to be honest, because his form hasn't been sparkling," Kosmina said.
The new Reds coach said he alone ordered the captaincy change.
"I bounced it off a couple of people but I had already made my mind up," Kosmina said.
Galekovic, a top-end club stalwart, was described as a natural born leader by Kosmina.
"This guy has been the backbone of this club, sometimes on his own, for five years," he said.
"He's had (Asian) Champions League success - the guy has been recognised everywhere.
"Purely, on that alone, he's a natural."
Galekovic said he counselled McKain soon after replacing him as captain.
"He's a professional, he understands we have just got to move on," Galekovic told reporters.
"When you have a new coach, he wants to put a stamp on it - and that is one of the stamps he has put on it."
The highly-rated Galekovic said the leadership wouldn't change his style.
"I'm not going to change as a person," he said.
"Obviously Kossie saw something in me, that I have got leadership qualities, but my role on the pitch won't change."
AAP
Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000 First posted December 29, 2011 16:40:08
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